Side dump loader bucket

ABSTRACT

The bucket contains an ejector plate movable from side to side to discharge a load from either side of the bucket. Both sides of the bucket are equipped with doors which are opened and closed by double acting hydraulic cylinders and the doors are held closed and released by latch devices actuated by double acting hydraulic cylinders. The ejector plate is actuated by a pair of hydraulic cylinders arranged to move the ejector plate the entire width of the bucket. When a load is to be dumped from the right side of the bucket, the ejector plate is shifted to the left side before the bucket is loaded and when a load is to be dumped from the left side of the bucket, the ejector plate is shifted to the right side before the bucket is loaded. This arrangement allows the bucket to discharge from either side without tilting the bucket laterally.

O United States Patent 1 [111 3,738,513 Wagner 1 June 12, 1973 SIDE DUMP LOADER BUCKET [57] ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: Eddie Wagner Portland Oreg' The bucket contains an ejector plate movable from side [73] Assignee: Wagner Mining Equipment, Inc., to side to discharge a load from either side of the Portland, Oreg. bucket. Both sides of the bucket are equipped with doors which are opened and closed by double acting [22] i May 1971 hydraulic cylinders and the doors are held closed and [21] Appl. No.: 139,670 released by latch devices actuated by double acting hydraulic cylinders. The ejector plate is actuated by a pair of hydraulic cylinders arranged to move the ejector 2% S "f 214/146 56;: plate the entire width of the bucket. When a load is to i58i id iiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 214/510 be dumped from the right side of the bucket, the ejecle care 4 82 1 146 tor plate is shifted to the left side before the bucket is loaded and when a load is to be dumped from the left 56 C1 d side of the bucket, the ejector plate is shifted to the 1 e erences e right side before the bucket is loaded. This arrange- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment allows the bucket to discharge from either side 2,987,205 6/1961 Draxler 214/514 X without tilting the bucket laterally. 3,273,730 9/1966 Moore..... 214/146 E 3,407,952 10/1968 Gardner.. 214/510 X 3,633,293 1/1972 Lajoye 37/127 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Assistant Examiner-John Mannix Attorney-Lee R. Schennerhorn r 2 I? 57 1 T T .1 7

J 70 l 27 l 66 h l I \B ll Z3 2 45 2 a Is 24 25 I H w so u 26 v 33 \17 6 If. I -35 as 3O I lo 2| PATENIED 3. 738.513

sum 1 OF 3 INVENTOR. EDDIE B. WAGNER Attorney mraur PATENTEU- 3973 INVENTOR. EDDIE B. WAGNER 2 2 0 PAIENIEB 3.738.513

sum 3 or 3 p w A :1 1 mm i: I75 :jikn r m1 |2| v -no Bk Eh M MN WEE llO m l l MANPW Tl MAN nos IOl

, INVENTOR I1 5 EDDIE B. WAGNER fltiorney SIDE DUMP LOADER BUCKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a side dump loader bucket and has particular reference to a bucket having a laterally movable ejector plate for ejecting the load without tilting the bucket.

In conventional side dump loaders one side of the bucket is raised to tilt the bucket laterally at a sufficient angle to cause the load to slide out of the other side by gravity. In the case of a large bucket, considerable overhead clearance is required in order to raise one side of the bucket high enough to effect gravity discharge. This is not objectionable in outside work but in a mine, tunnel or other environment where the overhead clearance is limited, conventional side dumping cannot be employed.

Objects of the invention are, therefore, to provide a side dump loader which does not require high overhead clearance, to provide a side dump loader in which the bucket is not tilted laterally for dumping, to provide a side dump loader bucket having a laterally movable ejector plate for ejecting a load while the bucket is in level position, and to provide a loader bucket of the type described which will eject a load from either side of the bucket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present construction a pair of hydraulic cylinders is arranged to reciprocate an ejector plate from side to side within a bucket. Opposite sides of the bucket are provided with doors which are opened selectively depending on the direction of movement of the ejector plate. Thus, if the bucket is loaded with the ejector plate on the left side, the load is discharged by opening the door on the right side and moving the ejector plate from left to right. In a similar manner, if the bucket is loaded with the ejector plate on the right side, the load is discharged by opening the door on the left side and moving the ejector plate from right to left. This manner of dumping does not require one side of the bucket to be raised whereby the bucket can be dumped at a high position close under a mine or tunnel roof.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts and certain features may be used without others. All such modifications within the scope of the appended claims are included in the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, with parts in section, showing a loader bucket embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view on the line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view on the line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view on the line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system for operating the ejector plate-cylinders, door cylinders and latch cylinders.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the front end portion of a loader vehicle having a frame 10, front axle beam 11 and a pair of front wheels 12. A forwardly extending boom 15 is mounted for pivotal movement on lnorisontal pins 16 in frame 10. The boom is raised and lowered by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 17 pivotally mounted at their lower ends on pins 18 in frame 10. Piston rods 19 extending from the upper ends of the cylinders are pivotally connected to pins 20 in the boom.

The bottom of bucket B is pivotally mounted on horizontal pins 21 in the forward end of boom 15. The bucket may be tilted forward on pins 21 for scooping by means of a double acting hydraulic cylinder 22 which is pivotally connected at its rear end to a horizontal pin, not shown, on frame 10. Extending forward from cylinder 22 is a piston rod 23 having pivotal connection at 24 with the rear end of a link 25. The forward end of link 25 is pivotally connected to a pin 26 on the back of the bucket. The mode of operation of link 25 in tilting the bucket forward and erecting the bucket is described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,291,330.

The bucket is shown in erected or load carrying position in FIG. 1. When piston rod 23 is extended with the boom in its lowermost position as shown, the bucket is tilted forward to scooping position as indicated by arrow 27. The bucket is filled by thendriving the vehicle forward, causing the lip 28 to penetrate a pile of material and scoop the material into the bucket. When piston rod 23 is retracted to its FIG. 1 position, the bucket is erected to contain the scooped material within the bucket so that the vehicle may transport the load to a dumping point.

The bucket may be dumped forward in conventional manner in either high boom orlow boom positions by extending piston rod 23 to tilt the bucket farther forward than its scooping position so as to incline the front wall 29 downward and discharge the load by gravity over the lip 28. The purpose of the novel features of the invention which will now be described is to enable the bucket to discharge its load laterally either to the left side or right side instead of straight forward in the conventional manner just described.

A vertical ejector plate 30 having a shape corre sponding to the interior cross section of the bucket is mounted on the depending vertical portion of an L- shaped arm 31 which overhangs the upper edge of the back wall 32 of the bucket as shown in FIG. 1. A lower back portion of plate 30 is notched to receive a roller in FIGS. 3 and 4, bushing 39 is considerably longer than bearing 38 and is equipped with end flanges 42 to retain the bearing on the bushing.

The purpose of bushing 39 is to provide an extended length of support on rod 40 and prevent binding of the bearing on the rod. Hearing 38 must necessarily be short in an axial dimension in order to allow plate to move across the entire width of the bucket. The center of pressure on plate 30 as it moves a heavy load out of the bucket is at considerable distance from rod which would cause bearing 38 to cock and bind on the rod were it not for the extended length of bushing 39. Bushing 39 allows free sliding movement of plate 30, the bearing 38 being slidable on bushing 39 until the bearing engages an end flange 42 causing the bushing to slide with the bearing on rod 40.

Ejector plate 30 is pulled to the left in FIG. 3 (to the operators right) by a chain 45 which has a movable end connected with arm 31 by a pin 46. Chain 45 is trained around a pulley 47 on a piston rod 48 extending from a single acting cylinder 50. The head end of cylinder 50 is mounted on side wall portion 41 of the bucket. Chain 45 has a fixed end anchored to a pin 51 on a bracket 52 on cylinder 50.

In a similar manner, ejector plate 30 is moved to the right in FIG. 3 (to the operators left) by a chain 55 which as a movable end connected with a pin 56 in arm 31. This chain is trained around a pulley 57 on a piston rod 58 extending from a single acting cylinder 60. The head end of cylinder 60 is mounted on bucket side wall portion 61. Chain 55 has a fixed end anchored to a pin 62 in a bracket 63 on cylinder 60. The extension of piston rod 58 causes chain 45 to retract piston rod 48 and the extension of piston rod 48 causes chain 55 to retract piston rod 58. This arrangement is effective to move ejector plate 30 from one side of the bucket to the opposite side. The ejector plate operating mechanism just described is protected by a housing 65 having a depending front shield plate 66 spaced in front of bucket back wall 32 to provide a slot for reciprocation of arm 31.

The left side of the bucket as viewed in FIG. 3 (right side of vehicle) is closed by a door 70 and the right side (left side of vehicle) is closed by a door 71. These doors are mounted at their upper edges on hinges 72 on upper frame parts 69 of the bucket to swing outward at their lower edges as shown. Door 70 is opened and closed by a double acting cylinder 73 and piston rod 74 and door 71 is opened and closed by a double acting cylinder 75 and piston rod 76.

Door 70 is normally held closed by a latch roller and door 71 is normally held closed by a latch roller 81. Details of the latch mechanism for door 70 are shown in FIG. 2. Roller 80 is mounted on one end of a bell crank arm which is pivotally mounted on a pin 86 in a bracket on back wall 32. A toggle link 87 is pivotally connected between the other end of arm 85 and a bell crank arm 88 which is pivotally mounted at 89 on a bracket on back wall 32. The other end of bell crank arm 88 is pivotally connected to a piston rod 90 in a double acting cylinder 91. Cylinder 91 is pivotally mounted on a pin 92 in a bracket on back wall 32.

When piston rod 90 is extended, the toggle joint between link 87 and arm 88 is brought into a straight line to hold roller 80 engaged with an edge portion of door 70 to hold the door closed. Retraction of piston rod 90 breaks the toggle joint at 87, 88 and retracts roller 80 to its broken line position at 80a, unlatching the door. Latch roller 81 is actuated by a similar linkage connected with the cylinder 95 and piston 96 in FIG. 5.

OPERATION Referring now to FIG. 5, the hydraulic system is supplied by a fixed displacement pump 100 connected with a pressure line 101. The system has a return or relief line at 102. Relief valve 103 maintains a predetermined pressure such as 500 psi in pressure line 101 when the system is working. The system is controlled by three four-way, three-position manual control valves 105, 106 and 107. The positions of the various pistons are coordinated with FIG. 3, ejector plate 30 being at the right side of the bucket and both doors 70 and 71 being latched closed. The terms right and left will be referenced to FIG. 3 rather than to the right and left sides of the vehicle.

When it is desired to dump to the left, valve is shifted to the left and valve 107 is shifted to the right. Valve 105 thereby connects pressure line 101 with a line 110 and connects return line 102 with a line 111. Valve 107 connects pressure line 110 with line 112 and connects return line 111 with line 113 to retract the piston 90 in cylinder 91 and unlatch the left door 70.

Pressure in line 110 also operates sequence valve 115 to connect line 110 with a line 116 to extend the piston rod 74 in left door cylinder 73 and open the left door 70. When the piston 74 in door cylinder 73 reaches the limit of its stroke, full working pressure builds up in line 116 to extend the piston 48 in cylinder 50 moving ejector plate 30 to the left to eject the load through the open left door 70 in FIG. 3.

The extension of the piston 48 in cylinder 50 causes chain 55 to retract the piston 58 in cylinder 60. Hydraulic fluid in cylinder 60 is discharged through line 120, check valve 121 and line 111 to return line 102. Hydraulic fluid from the rod end of cylinder 73 is discharged through the same path.

To return the parts to their FIG. 3 positions, valve 105 is first shifted to the right connecting pressure line 101 with line 111 and connecting relief line 102 with line 110. Pressure in line 111 operates relief valve 125 to pressurize line 120, retracting the piston 74 in cylinder 73 to close the door 70, and extending the piston 58 in cylinder 60 to return ejector plate 30 to the right side of the bucket. Pressure in the head end of the right door cylinder 75 is ineffective because this door remains latched closed. Hydraulic fluid is relieved from the head end of cylinder 73 through line 116, check valve 126 and line 110 to return line 102.

Upon the closing of the left door 70, that door is latched by shifting valve 107 to the left, connecting pressure line 111 with line 113 to extend piston 90 in cylinder 91. Pressure is relieved from the rod end of cylinder 91 through lines 112 and 110 to return line 102.

For right side dump in FIG. 3, both valves 105 and 106 are shifted to the right. This connects pressure line 101 with lines 111 and 130 and connects relief line 102 with lines 110 and 131. Pressure in line 130 retracts the piston 96 in latch cylinder 95, releasing the latch on right door 71. Pressure in line 111 actuates sequence valve 125 to pressurize line 120, extending the piston 76 in door cylinder 75 to open the right door 71. When the piston 76 has reached the end of its stroke, full working pressure builds up in line 120 to extend the piston 58 in cylinder 60, this piston having been previously retracted in preparation for right side dump. During the extension of the piston 76, hydraulic fluid is relieved from the rod end of the cylinder 75 through line 116, check valve 126 and line 110 to return line 102.

After right side dump, ejector plate 30 is returned to the left side and the right door 71 is closed by shifting valve 105 to the left. This valve movement establishes pressure in line 110 and relief in line 111. Pressure in line 110 actuates sequence valve 115 to communicate pressure to line 116. Pressure in line 116 extends the pistons 48 and 76 in cylinders 50 and 75 to move ejector plate 30 to the left and close door 71. Pressure in the head end of cylinder 73 is ineffective because left door 70 remains latched closed.

The extension of the piston 48 in cylinder 50 causes chain 55 to retract piston 58 in cylinder 60. Pressure is relieved from the head end of cylinder 60 through line 100, check valve 121 and line 111 to return line 102.

When door 71 has closed, valve 106 is shifted to the left connecting pressure line 110 with line 131 to extent the piston 96 in latch cylinder 95 and latch the door 71 closed.

When valves 106 and 107 are centered, as shown, both latch pistons 90 and 96 are hydraulically locked to hold both doors 70 and 71 normally latched closed.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A loader bucket pivotally mounted on a boom for scooping up a load of material over the front side of the bucket, an ejector plate mounted for transverse move ment in said bucket, and a pair of doors in opposite sides of the bucket for lateral discharge of said material by said ejector plate from the left or right sides of the bucket; means for opening said right door and moving said ejector plate toward the right side of the bucket, and means for opening said left door and moving said ejector plate toward the left side of the bucket; latches for holding said doors closed, and means for releasing said latch on one of said doors according to the direction of movement of said ejector plate; hydraulic operators for said ejector plate, doors and latches, and a hydraulic system arranged to produce sequential functioning of said operators.

2. A loader bucket as defined in claim 1, said ejector plate being mounted for sliding movement on a transverse rod on the bucket.

3. A loader bucket as defined in claim 1, said doors being mounted on hinges at their upper edges to swing outward at their bottom edges.

4. A loader bucket pivotally mounted on a boom for scooping up a load of material over the front side of the bucket, an ejector plate mounted for transverse movement in said bucket, a pair of doors in opposite sides of the bucket for lateral discharge of said material by said ejector plate from the right or left sides of the bucket, said ejector plate being mounted for sliding movement on a transverse rod on the bucket, a bushing slidable on said rod, and a bearing on said ejector plate slidable on said bushing, said bushing being longer than said bearing and shorter than said rod.

5. A loader bucket as defined in claim 1 including a roller on said ejector plate arranged to ride on a wall of the bucket to stabilize the ejector plate.

6. A loader bucket as defined in claim 4 including a pair of opposed, parallel hydraulic cylinders on said bucket arranged to reciprocate said ejector plate in the bucket. v

7. A loader bucket as defined in claim 6 including pistons in said cylinders, pulleys on said pistons, and a pair of chains trained around said pulleys, one on each pulley, each chain having one end connected to said ejector plate and its opposite end anchored in said bucket.

8. A loader bucket as defined in claim 7, the extension of one of said pistons acting on the chain on its pulley to pull the ejector plate to the right while the other piston retracts, and the extension of the other piston acting on the chain on its pulley to pull the ejector plate to the left while said one piston retracts. 

1. A loader bucket pivotally mounted on a boom for scooping up a load of material over the front side of the bucket, an ejector plate mounted fOr transverse movement in said bucket, and a pair of doors in opposite sides of the bucket for lateral discharge of said material by said ejector plate from the left or right sides of the bucket; means for opening said right door and moving said ejector plate toward the right side of the bucket, and means for opening said left door and moving said ejector plate toward the left side of the bucket; latches for holding said doors closed, and means for releasing said latch on one of said doors according to the direction of movement of said ejector plate; hydraulic operators for said ejector plate, doors and latches, and a hydraulic system arranged to produce sequential functioning of said operators.
 2. A loader bucket as defined in claim 1, said ejector plate being mounted for sliding movement on a transverse rod on the bucket.
 3. A loader bucket as defined in claim 1, said doors being mounted on hinges at their upper edges to swing outward at their bottom edges.
 4. A loader bucket pivotally mounted on a boom for scooping up a load of material over the front side of the bucket, an ejector plate mounted for transverse movement in said bucket, a pair of doors in opposite sides of the bucket for lateral discharge of said material by said ejector plate from the right or left sides of the bucket, said ejector plate being mounted for sliding movement on a transverse rod on the bucket, a bushing slidable on said rod, and a bearing on said ejector plate slidable on said bushing, said bushing being longer than said bearing and shorter than said rod.
 5. A loader bucket as defined in claim 1 including a roller on said ejector plate arranged to ride on a wall of the bucket to stabilize the ejector plate.
 6. A loader bucket as defined in claim 4 including a pair of opposed, parallel hydraulic cylinders on said bucket arranged to reciprocate said ejector plate in the bucket.
 7. A loader bucket as defined in claim 6 including pistons in said cylinders, pulleys on said pistons, and a pair of chains trained around said pulleys, one on each pulley, each chain having one end connected to said ejector plate and its opposite end anchored in said bucket.
 8. A loader bucket as defined in claim 7, the extension of one of said pistons acting on the chain on its pulley to pull the ejector plate to the right while the other piston retracts, and the extension of the other piston acting on the chain on its pulley to pull the ejector plate to the left while said one piston retracts. 